"Ok, it's off." Taylor tossed the shirt over to the side.
"Are your eyes still closed?"
"Yes Phoebe." He laughed a little. "Hand me your shirt please."
She leaned a little and grabbed the t-shirt. "Here."
He took it and tried to put it on her. "Ahh! Um, that's the armhole!"
She was laughing as he tried to get it back off of her.
"Well, if I could just open my eyes, I could put it on you right. Just turn around so I can only see your back." He waited for a
response from her... with his eyes still closed.
"Oh alright. Give me a second to turn around. I don't want to kill myself."
He laughed.
"Ok, you can open your eyes."
He looked at her. "Well, your back is bruised a little. Does it hurt?"
"Yeah, I'm real sore."
"I'm sorry you fell." Taylor slipped the shirt on her.
"Thanks Tay." She gave him a smile.
"See, that wasn't so bad. You shouldn't get so worried." He winked at her.
Phoebe rolled her eyes. She slid back to her pillow and got comfortable again... with a little help from Taylor.
"So, are you hungry? It's about lunch time now." He asked her.
"Yeah, I'm a little hungry. Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, I am." He stood up and walked over to her door. "I'll go downstairs and get us something to eat. I'll be right back."
"Ok, thanks." He smiled and walked down the stairs.

He opened up their pantry. "What to eat..." Taylor grabbed the peanut butter and went to the fridge to see if they had any jelly.
He found the jelly and made them both a sandwich, with chips and a pickle on the side. Some Jell-O caught his eyes as he
closed the fridge. He grabbed it and some soda, then left the kitchen. He walked carefully up the stairs, trying not to spill the
tray he had the lunch on. He walked into her room and sat the tray on her bed.
"Is peanut butter and jelly alright?"
"Yeah! I love that! Thanks."
He smiled. "Lucky guess." He took a bite of his sandwich.
Phoebe took a sip of her soda. "So, where are Isaac and Zac today?"
"Oh, Zac will be going to a birthday party and I guess Isaac is just hanging around."
"Yeah, I remember your mother saying that Zac had a party to go to."
He nodded his head. "Yeah his best friend Ethan turns thirteen today. They have been friends since Zac was a little thing."
She smiled. "Wow, kinda like my best friend. We have been friends a long time too." She got a spoonfull of Jello.
"You never told me her name."
"Oh, it's Judy. She's the same age as me too."
Taylor smiled.
"So, do you have a best friend?"
He thought for a moment. "To tell you the truth, I don't have a best friend. I have friends, but not like that. It's like, we all
consider Ethan a part of our family. He's a great kid. None of my friends could ever be like that I don't think." He popped a
chip in his mouth.
"Well you don't have to have a best friend. At least you have friends around you. Mine are all back in Tucson." She frowned a
little.
"Hey, I'm your friend. You have me. And Isaac and Zac."
She laughed a little. "I guess I do, huh?"
"Yeah you do. We all like you alot. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't be over here." He took her hand. "I care about you even
though I haven't known you that long. I can just tell that you are a great person Phoebe."
She didn't know what to say.
"I care about you alot too Taylor. You are such a nice person. I couldn't imagine another guy your age who is so popular
wanting to waste some of his summer taking care of me." She blushed a little.
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Well, I'm not like all the other guys. And I never will be."
She leaned up a little and gave him a small hug. "I can tell."
He smiled and sat back down. He picked up his soda can. "How about a toast?"
Phoebe laughed and picked up her can. "Here's to a great friendship, a great summer, and most of all a great person."
He finished his little speech and tapped his can to hers. They both took a sip.
"You are just so sweet Tay. I couldn't ask for a better friend."
"I know...I'm just too great."
She laughed and tossed a chip at him.
"Hey, food fights are my favorite past time!" He tossed a chip back at her. They both laughed and continued to eat lunch.

Taylor and Phoebe talked the whole afternoon and really got to know each other better. When evening came, Taylor ordered a
pizza and brought it up to her room. They ate together and Phoebe was feeling so much better. After dinner, he brought all the
dishes downstairs and cleaned up a little. Phoebe sat in bed and waited for him to return. She heard him come stomping back
up the stairs a few minutes later.
"Ok, I'm done." He climbed up on the bed and sat next to her, with is back against the other pillow.
"Well aren't you fast." She tickled him a little.
Out of reflex, he went to tickle her back, but then remembered he shouldn't. She laughed a little.
"You better not tickle me. I might have to kill you if you do."
She smiled and closed her eyes a little. He brushed his hand against her face.
"Are you tired?"
She sighed. "No... I have to go to the bathroom." She covered up her face with her hands.
He laughed. "Oh no... the dreaded trip to the bathroom. Let me guess... you are embarassed again?"
"Well yeah Tay. My mom helps me, but that's different."
He nodded. "I see now. Well, I guess you won't be going to the bathroom for a few more hours." He rolled his eyes and
chuckled. "Come on Phoebe. I'll help you."
"Well ok. I have no choice."
He walked over to her side of the bed and took her hands. She eased up and stood still for a minute.
"Ok, just lean on me and I'll take your weight."
They slowly made it to her bathroom. She leaned up against the counter.
"I hate this. I never thought walking to the bathroom could hurt this much."
Taylor looked at her. He felt so bad.
"Well, let's just hurry this up so I can get you back into bed."
"Alright." She snapped open her jeans and then looked at Taylor. He was blushing now.
"Well, you need to help me get them down."
"Oh, yeah!" He laughed and walked closer to her.
"You have a zipper too..." Taylor was getting nervous now. He really liked Phoebe, but he never thought he would be in this
situation with her! He cleared his head.
I have to help her... get over it, he told himself.
She stared at him. "Oh come on Taylor. This is embarassing enough as it is."
"Yeah, I'm sorry." He smiled and un-zipped her pants... quickly. He looked the other way and pulled her pants down. He went
over to the door.
"Ok, call me when you are done." He had his back to her.
"Ok." He closed the door and went over to her bed. He picked at the bedspread while waiting for her. He heard the toilet
flush.
"Ok! Done!"
"Alright, I'm on my way!"
Taylor wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and opened up the door. Trying not to look at her, he got her pants back up and
zipped.
"Ok, you're ready now." She smiled and leaned on him, as he helped her back to the bed.

After getting Phoebe back into bed, Taylor relaxed.
"Thanks a bunch Tay... even though it was embarassing."
He shook his head. "Well, I'm here for you. You don't have to be embarassed around me."
She smiled. Just then, the phone rang. She tried to get it, but he insisted.
"Hello?"
"Hi Taylor! This is Mrs. Blue! How is everything?"
He mouthed to Phoebe that is was her mother.
"Oh, everything is great! We had dinner and Phoebe is in bed right here."
"Taking care of my Phobe well, huh?" Georgia laughed a little.
"Yes, I hope so! I would think I was!" He chuckled. "Would you like to speak to Phoebe?"
"Sure! Put her on if you can."
"Ok, hold on a sec." He handed the phone to her.
"Hey mom!"
He stood up and motioned that he would be right back. She nodded and then laughed at something her mother said. Taylor
closed the door behind him and sat in a chair in the hallway. He thought she needed a little privacy. He curled up in the chair
and waited. As he was lost in his thoughts, he heard a knock at the front door. Confused, Taylor went downstairs to open it.
He looked through the peephole to see... Isaac and Zac. He smiled and opened the door.
"Hey long time no see stranger!" Isaac said and came in looking around like he had never seen the place.
"Hey buddy!" Zac gave Taylor a huge hug.
"Man you dorks act like you haven't seen me in years!" He laughed and tickled Zac until he got off of him.
"Well big bro, I just miss you." Zac gave him puppy dog eyes.
"Ok Zac. What do you want from me?" He asked him.
Zac rolled his eyes.
"So, where's your girlfriend Tay?" Isaac asked with a smile.
"Oh just stop it. She's in her room on the phone with her mother. And she's not my girlfriend." He sighed and under his breath
he said, "At least not yet."
"Sure! Can we go see her? Zac brought her some candy." Isaac pointed to Zac's pocket. He pulled out a bag of Gummi Bears.
"And they are all warm and soft from my pocket." Zac broke out into a fit of laughter.
"Ok... I can see you've had your share of sugar tonight..."
"Let me go see if she's off the phone. Then you guys can come up." His brothers nodded and he ran up the stairs.

"Come in!" Phoebe yelled after Taylor had knocked.
"Hey girl. Isaac and Zac are here to see you. Can they come up?"
"Oh wow! That's nice of them. Sure! Send them up!"
"Ok, cool!" He ran to the top of the stairs. "Hey guys, you can come up!"
Zac giggled and ran up the stairs tripping Isaac in the process. "Gee thanks for the bruise Zac." He rubbed his knee when he
got to the top.
"Welcome!" Zac ran in the room. "PHOEBE!!"
He got ready to bear hug her when Taylor saved her.
"ZAC!!! Hello? You can't do that! You would break her back!"
Zac covered his mouth and blushed. Taylor was in shock. Zac had never blushed!
"Sorry Phoebe."
Isaac waited patiently then said hi. "Hey Phoebe. How's my brother doing here?"
She laughed. "Fine thanks. He's been a great help."
He turned and winked at Taylor. Taylor punched his arm.
"Oh Zac has a gift for you."
"A gift? You didn't have to Zac."
"Nah, it's no problem. Plus it's only Gummi Bears." He pulled the bag back out of his pocket. "Here you go!"
She took them and smiled. "Thanks Zac! How sweet are you?"
"Hmm, wanna taste?" He held out his arm.
"Yeah sure..." She tickled him a little and ate a Gummi Bear. "Oh, they're warm..." She started laughing.
Taylor and Isaac laughed too. "So Isaac, what did you do today?" She motioned for all of them to sit on her bed.
Isaac sat down. "Hmm... nothing really. Except drive Prozac to and from a birthday party." He smiled.
"That's my name... don't wear it out!" Zac tossed a pillow at Isaac.
"He guys be careful around her."
"No, it's ok Tay. I'm feeling alright."
"Well, I'm just being careful."
She gave him a little wink.
Taylor, Isaac and Zac talked, and talked and talked. Before long, an hour had passed and her parents were pulling up in the
driveway.

Taylor heard the key in the door and looked over at his brothers. "Ok, let's go downstairs. Her mom and dad are home."
Isaac and Zac got up and waited while he said goodbye to her.
"I'll see you tomorrow... same time?"
She thought for a moment. "Yeah, I think. If not, I'll call and let you know."
He leaned down and gave her a small kiss on the cheek. "Take care now."
"I will."
She glanced over his shoulder and saw Isaac and Zac with wide grins on their faces. "Bye you two. Thanks for the Gummi
bears Zac!"
They smiled and said goodbye. Taylor joined them at the door and went downstairs to see Georgia and Clarke.

Phoebe lay in bed listening to the voices downstairs. She heard Taylor laugh with his brothers and a few minutes later, they left
for home. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Mostly about Taylor. Her mother and father walked in her room,
causing Phoebe to come out of her daydream.
"Hey Phoebe. How are we feeling?" Her mother sat down on the bed and gave her a small hug.
"I'm fine mom. Everything went well."
Georgia smiled.
"Taylor's a nice young man. Are you ok with him staying with you?" Clarke asked.
"Yes, of course I am! He is so nice and he took great care of me. I really enjoyed his company."
"Well that's good" He took a deep breath. "You know how I worry about you and guys Phoebe. He is a... well he is a
gentleman?"
She rolled her eyes and laughed. "Yes dad. He is so not like all the other guys. You have nothing to worry about. If you did, I
would tell you. You know that."
Georgia walked over by Clarke. "Well alright then. We're going to go downstairs now and rest. It's been a long, long day."
He walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight dear." He smiled and left the room.
"I'll bring you up your medicine at ten ok?"
Phoebe smiled. "Ok, see you then."
Her mother turned off the light. "Would you like your window open? There's a nice breeze out."
"Ok, sure mom. Thanks." Georgia opened it and left the room, leaving the door open a little.

Phoebe closed her eyes, and then remembered something. "Crap!" She tossed the covers aside. "I still have my clothes on!"
She rolled her eyes. "Wait a minute. Why am I talking to myself?"
She decided to just slip off her jeans and bra and sleep in her t-shirt. She did so... barely. "Ouch!" She twisted a little too much
getting her jeans off. She dropped them on the floor beside her, and then relaxed. She had broken out into a sweat just from
doing that. She got a hair piece off her nightstand and pulled all of her hair up. Getting frustrated from being so hot, she yelled
out a little loud, "I FEEL LIKE CRAP!!!!!!!!!"

Taylor dropped his basketball when he heard someone yell. Zac busted out laughing.
"Man, that has to be Phoebe. I feel her pain!" Zac grabbed the ball up and made a basket.
Taylor looked over at her window, then back to Zac. "Hey, her window is open. The whole neighborhood probably heard that
yell!" He laughed and took the ball back.
They played one-on-one for a while until they had to stop, for Isaac was pulling up in the driveway. Zac ran over and sat on the
hood while his big brother parked it. Isaac got out with a bag of groceries and a video.
"Oh cool!! What video did you get?"
"I got 'I Know What You Did Last Summer.'"
Taylor walked over and joined his brothers. "Cool! I've been wanting to see that."
He eyed the bag in Isaac's hand.
"What's in the bag?" Isaac looked in it and back to them.
"It's a secret no one knows."
"Oh just give it up!" Zac could barely contain himself.
"Man, we just can't get away from it, huh?" Taylor laughed and took the bag.
"Hmm, candy. Keep it from Zac." He tossed the bag back to Isaac and out of Zac's reach.
"You got it. Let's go inside and start the movie before the night is over." Zac took off after Isaac.
"I'll be there in a sec guys!" His brothers nodded and went in the house.

NEXT CHAPTER